Watch Gandalf, Alfred, and Ghandi absolutely flop on live TV.
The BBC delves into its archives to discover British acting greats as they take their first tentative steps on the road to success. Long before they were knighted for their services to drama, we see early appearances from Michael Caine in a rare Shakespearean role, Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi and Michael Gambon. Featuring unique behind-the-scenes footage alongside a wealth of classic British productions like War and Peace, the Mayor of Casterbridge and the Singing Detective, it reveals many career-defining moments from the first generation of acting talent to fully embrace television drama.
Acting
Caine doing Shakespeare? Unhinged and magnificent.
Production
BBC archive porn for Anglophiles.
Direction
Tennant narration keeps it moving.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This 2015 doc coincided with McKellen receiving his own knighthood—making him both subject and peer of the other knights.
These actors represent the first generation who treated television as legitimate art, not just 'stepping stone to film.'
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